A pathologist's approach to the treatment of ameloblastoma.

There are three clinical types of ameloblastoma: the solid or multicystic type; the unicystic type; and the rare peripheral type. Important considerations in planning treatment include the clinical type as well as the anatomic location of the tumor and the availability of the patient for follow-up examinations. The various histologic patterns exhibited by this tumor have no bearing on its biologic behavior. In this article the treatment of the three types of ameloblastoma is discussed, with emphasis on their biologic behavior and anatomic considerations.